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 TUEKS SUGGEST SUEEENDEE : TEEMS 317 It was probably in consequence of this depression that Sends even at this late stage Mahomet made one more effort to £^?rVas induce the Greeks to surrender the city. A certain Ismail, biuty of the son of Alexander who had obtained the rule over Sinope surrender, by accepting the suzerainty of the Turks, came into the city at the request of the sultan and endeavoured to persuade the Greeks to make terms. He spoke of his own influence with Mahomet and promised, if they would appoint a messenger, to use it to procure for him a favourable hear- ing. He declared that unless terms were made the city would certainly be captured, the men killed, and their wives and daughters sold as slaves. Upon Ismail's suggestion a messenger, but a man of no particular name or family, went with Ismail to Mahomet. According to Chalcondylas, the answer sent to the Greeks was that they should pay an annual tribute of ten myriads or one hundred thousand gold bezants, and if this condition were not accepted Mahomet would permit as an alternative that all the inhabitants should leave the city, taking with them their own property, with leave to go whither they wished. He would be content to receive the deserted city. The Greeks, though with some difference of opinion, decided that they could not and would not accept either of the con- ditions offered. Possibly not a few of them were of the opinion of Chalcondylas, that the offer was not serious on the sultan's part — that is, that he did not believe that there was any chance of its being accepted — but that it was rather an attempt to learn what the feeling was among the Greeks in regard to their chance of success. Mahomet had nothing to lose by his offer. He knew that the inhabitants could not pay the amount of tribute demanded. If, on the other hand, they had been willing to desert the city in order to save their lives, he would have gained an easy victory without bloodshed — a victory which he was by no means certain he could gain after a general assault. If the story of Chalcondylas is to be believed, then additional doubt is thrown on the statement of Ducas that the emperor on a previous occasion had voluntarily offered to pay any tribute